Try a few of these on for size when you’ve run out of ideas to keep the kids (and adults) enthralled with outdoor play. Let’s face it, this summer has put a damper on social activities but that shouldn’t stop you from finding unique (and affordable) D.I.Y. game projects that will entice the kids out of the dastardly doldrums of inside-a-palooza.
What a difference a year makes! How many times have you heard that expression this past spring and summer? Unfortunately, looking ahead into autumn and beyond, it is quite possibly going to continue as we find ways to recover. Trying to maintain a healthy environment for you and your family has added to the stress level of everyday living so it is imperative to take steps now to avoid further repercussions. Staying mobile and active, eating well, keeping hydrated and getting a good night’s sleep all contribute to this cycle. Fresh air, sunshine, or even cloudy cooler brisk days are not just physically beneficial but can alter the psyche as well.
By taking some initial steps forward with minimal pre-planning and equal to modest budgetary requirements, you can engage your family into some frivolous games that combine active and passive agility, teamwork promotion, spontaneous outbursts of imaginative creativity, critical thinking and plain old time FUN. So jot down a list and set aside a couple of hours to purge the aisles of the most magical world of supplies….the realm of Dollar Stores; and be prepared to bolster your backyard with the best buys for your buck. Don’t forget to wear your mask and while you’re in there, grab a few extra…along with an equal number of overnight eye masks….trust me! All will be revealed below…..
Do I REALLY Need To Prepare in Advance Just To Play Outside?
Normally, no. As mentioned above, 2020 has added its own rules however so to ensure your own peace of mind, a few minutes of prevention will outlast even the highest SPF sunscreen lotion. COVID isn’t the only fly in the ointment either. Outdoor play now invites the rising risks of EEE, altered venom bee stings and tick bites. A decent enviro-friendly multi spray should take care of that.
- The Grass is Now Greener on The Other Side Of The Fence:
- Why? Because yours hasn’t been kept down to its precise crew cut length. Designate a cutting crew to run the mower over the greens. A quick rake or pass over with leaf blower will have the playground ready to go in no time flat.
- A Sedentary Summer Style Has A Grip on Our Hips…and Knees…and Lower Backs:
- Laugh if you will. A couple of simple stretching warms ups and a well-hydrated interior you will make your day of interactive or even supervisory play more enjoyable in the end run
So, What Are We Going to Play Today?
The reliable go-to’s are always a great place to start; tag, hide and seek, red rover, swimming games like Marco Polo and Sharks and Minnows ( either in your pool or a beach/lake/local community center etc) but to put a new spin on them, try for example:
- NERF-style Tag with toss balls for the younger crowd. (upgrade to age related darts if you wish…just be socially and safety aware, especially if neighbor kids are joining in the foray)
- Night Tag is a variation but with those snap and glow sticks and clothes pins. Just shake to shine the neon stick, peg it to the back of your kid’s shirt and make that the tag flag that has to be snagged.
- Flash Light Night Go Seek requires nothing but pre-determined boundaries, a few batteries and flashlights of course. Adding in social distancing precautions can be as simple as having a few pool noodles and hula hoops on hand as well. Even a roll or two of plastic trail marker tape for games like Red Rover, Red Light Green Light. That tape can also be used to lay out a larger grid on the grass for bean bag toss games, Frisbee toss bingo/target or hopscotch.
What About Games for Larger Groups of Kids?
When it comes to outside games an entire day of planned themed large group “just-because” party games can solve your woes.These ideas work extremely well with birthdays too and can end up sparing you from doling out mega bucks at some high-tech indoor amusement center. These take a bit more planning and recommended advanced mailed invitations and parental volunteer sign up box as well. The more adult helping hands the better. Upside to that is, helpers ALWAYS offer to bring food and snacks…an added and welcomed bonus:
THE MINI OLYMPICS
- Start off by separating your group into two opposing/competing “sides”. Depending on the attendance, you may find you need a third group or more. The ideal amount of participants per group should not exceed 4 or 6 team members due to social distancing. Remember to divide them fairly according to age and size. Assign each group and “adult” coach.
- Remember those face and eye masks from above? Well, hand them out and have everyone decorate them with a team name, color, slogan etc. Using what you already may have access to; a swimming pool, a jungle gym or trampoline with a safety net, plot out a series of events of Athens-esque proportion.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have the big-ticket toys. Pool noodles tossed through held up hula hoops
- or flailed with all might from one end of the yard to the other become javelin events. Frisbee tosses into cut up target slot cardboard boxes or hoops? Aha! Instant kid friendly skeet shooting.
- Ping pong ball toss into plastic cups transcends into bowling or target practice, blindfolded follow the leader through a maze of taped out distance walks with one person at the end calling out instructions, 6 foot distanced tug-o-war ( best when you have an even number of teams). The possibilities are endless. From wiffle ball shot put to sandbox long jump.
THE SCAVENGER HUNT EXTRAVAGANZA
- Bar none, one of the TOP outdoor games, in my opinion. Using the same premise as in the Olympics, divide your players into equal and fair teams, adult chaperones a MUST as this will usually incorporate venturing out of the confines of your backyard, assuming your neighborhood is not in a heavily trafficked area. If it is and you still want to host this, try looking for a local park or school yard athletic field. The premise is to set a time frame to complete the hunt and through a series of duplicated hand written clues, each team will begin at opposite ends and work their way together with their safety chaperone to collect hidden items, treasures solve riddles and find more clues that will bring them to the end. The team with the most collected items in their bag wins the challenge. Clues can include math problems to solve to get them to a certain address where they have to write down the color of the garage door or mailbox for example, or if you are out in a field, follow a counted out series of steps to “dig up” another clue or prize. The most fun I had with this was getting our neighbors involved and having them enforce a clue by making the kids sing a silly song before handing out the next clue. It’s a cross between SURVIVOR type game shows and reality travel games. A definite hit for all ages.